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With four rounds to go in the MotoGP season, Jorge Martin occupies the first position in the riders' general standings with 392 points compared to Bagnaia's 382. Yet, despite a favorable situation with so few rounds to go before the grand finale, the Spanish rider confessed that he hasn't lived through this championship peacefully, and he approached the start with great anxiety.
"In February, I didn't want to come back, for fear of not being as competitive as I had been the year before. Then, when I got on the track, I realized that nothing had changed and that I could still fight," he revealed to motogp.com. Compared to 2023, several things have changed, for the better. "I've grown in almost all areas, but I was maybe faster last year. Now we're all there with Pecco, Bastianini, and Marquez, but I'm still stronger in some points," he said, analyzing his situation.
The work he's done to improve psychologically has paid off. "From a mental viewpoint, I've improved a lot. Last year, I wasn't able to handle the pressure and, during the race weekends, I couldn't sleep. I was over-thinking, and imagining what might happen wasn't the right way to go. I was obsessed with the results and only wanted to win. Now I'm more focused on myself, and I try to learn from every situation by always giving my best," he explained.
Of course, the pressure is still there. "At Roland Garros, they say it's a privilege, and I feel lucky to feel it. That means I'm fighting for big goals," he pointed out, then dwelled on the new strategy he's adopted: "Now, even when I'm up in front, I only think about pushing, without focusing too much on what's out of my control. Martin concluded by making a prediction about the possibility of winning in Valencia, and acknowledged: "At the moment, I give myself a fifty-fifty chance. If not, I'll try again in 2025. But, if I do make it, I'll have to decide whether to keep my number 89 or switch to a 1."
